Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Anduril Industries partnering with a South Korean shipbuilder, an artificial intelligence provision lawmakers are trying to include in the defense policy bill, the Navy's implementation of certain acquisition reforms and more.
Anduril has partnered with many companies and still has a desire to be a major defense prime, President and Chief Business Officer Matthew Steckman said at this week's State of Defense Business Acquisition Summit:
Anduril's partnership with South Korean shipbuilder part of pattern for company, executive says
Anduril Industries' recently announced partnership with South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is part of a pattern for the defense startup, a company executive said this week.
Our colleagues at Inside AI Policy have news on an artificial intelligence provision lawmakers are trying to get into the defense policy bill:
Moratorium on state AI regulation reemerges as defense policy bill moves to endgame
Backers of imposing a moratorium on state regulation of artificial intelligence are eyeing the annual national defense policy bill -- now the subject of endgame negotiations between the House and Senate -- as a vehicle, sending opponents scrambling to the barricades to block such a proposal for the second time this year.
A new Navy memo provides an early glimpse of the service's first steps to implement the Pentagon's acquisition overhaul agenda:
Draft memo: Navy's RAS office to absorb 66 programs spanning all domains
The Navy is developing plans to sweep 66 different programs spanning air, sea and land into its new Portfolio Acquisition Executive Robotic Autonomous System (PAE RAS) office, according to a draft memo obtained by Inside Defense.
A commercial solutions opening -- accompanied by an Area of Interest notice -- comes just over a month after the Army launched is Janus initiative and tasked DIU with building commercial microreactors using a "nimble, milestone-based contracting model":
DIU releases CSO for Army 'Janus' initiative
The Defense Innovation Unit today issued the anticipated call to industry for the Army's Janus program aimed at developing commercially owned and operated nuclear microreactors for the military.
Army Maj. Gen. John Rafferty, currently serving as chief of staff at U.S. European Command, is slated to receive a third star and take over the Huntsville-based command responsible for missile defense operations and Army space capabilities:
Artillery leader pick for SMDC raises Golden Dome expertise concerns
The decision to nominate Maj. Gen. John Rafferty to lead U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command comes as service leaders work to more closely integrate offensive and defensive fires, a move that is stirring concern among air defenders who argue that an artillery background doesn't provide expertise needed for Golden Dome.